Nanotherapeutics for Inflammatory Periodontal Disease Management

Inflammatory periodontal disease, or periodontitis, affects a substantial proportion of the global population and is characterised by the destruction of gingival tissue, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Conventional treatments, including mechanical debridement and systemic antibiotics, often fail to fully resolve inflammation or regenerate lost structures, owing to poor drug penetration, rapid clearance and rising antimicrobial resistance. Nanotherapeutics harness nanoscale materials—such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, metal‐based nanocapsules and cell‐derived vesicles—to achieve targeted delivery, sustained local release and multifunctional activity. These strategies can combine antimicrobial action, immunomodulation and tissue regeneration in a single platform, while limiting off‐target effects. By scavenging reactive oxygen species, reprogramming macrophage phenotypes, enhancing osteogenic signalling and disrupting biofilms, nanosystems offer a new paradigm for managing periodontal inflammation and restoring periodontal architecture. Early translational studies in animal models demonstrate the potential of injectable hydrogels, photoresponsive carriers and biomimetic nanocapsules to address key challenges in periodontal therapy and pave the way towards clinical application.

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Nanotherapeutics for Inflammatory Periodontal Disease Management publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanotherapeutics for inflammatory periodontal disease management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Nanotherapeutics: Therapies that use nanoscale carriers for precise delivery and controlled release of drugs.

Nanoparticle: A particle between 1 and 100 nanometres in size used to transport therapeutic agents.

Exosome: A small extracellular vesicle released by cells that can carry proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.

Macrophage polarisation: The process whereby macrophages adopt proinflammatory (M1) or anti‐inflammatory (M2) functional states.

Biofilm: A structured community of bacteria embedded in a self‐produced matrix that confers resistance to treatments.

Osteogenesis: The formation and mineralisation of new bone tissue.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen that can cause tissue damage when in excess.

References

1. New insights into nanotherapeutics for periodontitis: a triple concerto of antimicrobial activity, immunomodulation and periodontium regeneration. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2024).
2. Melatonin Engineering M2 Macrophage‐Derived Exosomes Mediate Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Immune Reprogramming for Periodontitis Therapy. Advanced Science (2023).
3. CD301b+ macrophage: the new booster for activating bone regeneration in periodontitis treatment. International Journal of Oral Science (2023).